TRAVELOGUE: Bill would tighten reigns on teen drivers

The prom season is finished for most, if not all, of the Delaware County high schools. And that's usually when parents of teenage drivers who have returned home safely can breathe a sigh of relief. It's often a high-risk time for teenage drivers, who may go places, or do things they don't normally do.

But we all know that teenagers are capable of such behavior any time of the year. And while that is often harmless, if they happen to be driving, it can be quite harmful, or unfortunately, even tragic. May is National Youth Traffic Safety Month, Rep. Kathy Watson, R-144, Warrington Twp., wants every month to be safer for teens and all drivers.

She is the sponsor of House Bill 9, which overwhelmingly was passed in the state house two weeks ago. Now it will be up to the state senate to decide to make it a law or not. The bill includes stronger standards in the Graduated Drivers License program. Some features of the bill for teen drivers include, making it a primary offense to not wear a seatbelt, meaning police can stop a car if they suspect someone in the car is not wearing a seatbelt, and also limiting the amount of teenage passengers allowed in a vehicle with a teen driver. Another feature also would require at least five hours of driving in inclement weather.

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"I know when parents think the prom season is over, they can relax," Watson said Friday morning. "But it can happen at any time of year."

Watson believes if a law is in place, it would make parents' jobs a lot easier, and most importantly, save lives.

"It's one thing to put something over on your parents," she said. "But it's different if you have to tell your parents that you got a ticket. The parents are for this. It would level the playing field for parents."

According to several studies, improved Graduated Driver License laws can reduce crashes by as much at 40 percent. But this law isn't just about teens.

"Thirty percent of us will be involved, though not of our making, with one of these new drivers," Watson said. "It has important highway safety ramifications."

Watson isn't pretending the newer standards would eliminate all teen driving accidents. But if the law leads to another reduction in serious crashes by teen drivers, she would consider it a success.

"You can't design a law that will bring every teen home safely," Watson said. "But stats show they bring more people home safely."

While there's resistance on some level to every new potential law, All-State Insurance funded a poll that revealed 75 percent of people across the state want tougher standards for teen drivers.

Watson is hoping that information will help keep the senate from changing any significant language in the bill. Watson said she did not know when the bill would go before the senate.

"I understand and respect that many of them have constituents that come from parts of Pennsylvania where there is a long heritage and tradition that says don't do anything if the government tells me too," Watson said. "I agree with that, but I do make an exception when it comes to safety and children."

BRIDGE HIKES

The Delaware Memorial Bridge joined other area major bridges by approving an increase on its toll to take effect July 1. It will raise its toll from $3 to $4. The Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross bridges will be $5 beginning July 1.

TRAFFIC DELAYS

Baltimore Pike -- Will have lane restrictions between I-476 and PA 420 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

I-95 -- There will be northbound lane restrictions Tuesday-Thursday between PA 322 and PA 352 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. for resurfacing. There will also be lane restrictions from PA 452 and Kerlin St. in the northbound lane between midnight and 5 a.m. Monday-Wednesday.

I-476 -- There will be northbound and southbound lane closures from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting tonight through Wednesday between Route 30 and Route 3 for bridge joint replacement.

Walt Whitman Bridge -- The righthand wastbound lane will be closed for construction between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the westbound lane between 10 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The righthand westbound lane will be close between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday for construction.

Radnor Twp. -- King of Prussia Road between Matsonford Road and U.S. 30 will be closed and detoured through June 1 for utility installation.

Radnor Twp. -- There will be lane restrictions on Radnor Chester Rd. from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. between King of Prussia Rd. and US 30 Monday-Friday until June 3.

Marple Twp. -- State Road will be closed between between Crum Creek Rd. and Marple Woods Dr. until June 24 for utility installation.

Concord Twp. -- U.S. 1 has lane restrictions for bridge replacement over Chester Creek. It is scheduled to be completed in June.

Thornbury Twp. -- Brinton Lake Rd. will be closed and detoured between US 1 and Dilworthtown Rd. for bridge construction from until July 11.

Media -- Baltimore Pike will have one lane closed between Providence Rd. and Jackson St. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday until Aug. 5 for traffic signal installation.

Media -- Baltimore Pike will have one lane closed between Orange St. and State Rd. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday until Aug. 5 for traffic signal installation.

Media -- Baltimore Pike will have one lane closed between Orange St. and I-476. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday until Aug. 5 for traffic signal installation.

Middletown Twp. -- U.S. 1 will have lane restrictions between Darlington and Station Roads for bridge replacement until August. There will also be 15-minute intermittent traffic stoppages each day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Chester -- The new traffic pattern remains in effect on Flower St. at Second and Fourth Streets due to ramp construction. It is scheduled to be completed in August.

Chester -- The new traffic pattern remains in effect on Norris St. at Front St. and Delaware Ave. due to ramp construction. It is scheduled to be completed in August.

East Lansdowne -- Pembroke Ave. will be closed between Penn Blvd. and Church Lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday until Aug. 15 for utility installation.

MacDade Blvd. - There will be lane restrictions between Cedar Ave. and South Ave. and between Ashland Ave. and Oak Lane from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday until Aug. 31 for utility installation.

Ridley Township -- PA 291 is down to one lane for bridge construction over Crum Creek just south of Stewart Avenue. The project is scheduled to be completed in October.

Ridley Twp. -- U.S. 13 is one lane between Morton Ave. and Acres Dr. for bridge construction. It is scheduled to be completed in October.

US 1 -- It is closed and detoured between Darlington Rd. and Station Rd. for bridge replacement. It is scheduled to reopen in October.

Bethel Twp. -- PA 491 (Naaman's Creek Road) is closed and detoured between U.S. 202. and PA 261. PA 491 is expected to be closed until Nov. 20.

Chester -- U.S. 13 will have lane restrictions between Trainer Street. and Morton Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday for ramp construction. The project is scheduled to be completed in August of 2012.

Chester Twp. -- Concord Rd. will be closed and detoured between Bridgewater Rd. and Commerce Dr. until October 2012 for bridge replacement.

And remember when you're driving, life's a journey, not a race.

Travelogue runs every Sunday. Messages and e-mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail Jeff Wolfe at jwolfe@delcotimes.com.